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5G and Beyond

NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunications Services, the Nation’s Spectrum and Communications Lab, supports the Department of Defense 5G Initiative through a combination of its subject matter experts in 5G and its research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) laboratory infrastructure in Boulder, Colorado, including the Advanced Communications Test Site at the Table Mountain Radio Quiet Zone. Fifth generation wireless technologies (5G) play a critical role in connecting the nation, promoting economic development, and closing the digital divide.

NTIA also hosts the 5G Challenge, which is intended to help accelerate the adoption of 5G open interfaces, interoperable subsystems, and multi-vendor solutions by fostering a large, vibrant, and growing vendor community dedicated to advancing 5G interoperability towards true plug-and-play operation.

Below you will find links to articles, videos, and other resources that will help you navigate your way through 5G and beyond.

5G styled lettering

RIC Forum, March 26–28, 2024

NTIA/ITS, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense FutureG Office, is hosting a Forum where radio access network (RAN) Intelligent Controller (RIC) Application (App) vendors and universities can demonstrate the current state of the Open RAN RIC App market.

This event provides a venue for the demonstration of viable RIC Apps and their use cases, for the purposes of technical knowledge sharing. Presenters will showcase RIC App demonstrations (not simulations) that measure and display the effects of their xApps and rApps on a 5G Open RAN network.

Details

  • Venue: Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Market Center, 2727 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas TX 75207.

  • In-person attendance at this event will be by invitation only. Send in-person attendance requests and other questions to ricforum@ntia.gov.

  • On-line attendance will be open to the public. On-line attendees will be in listen only mode. Registration for on-line attendance is coming soon.
  • The RIC Forum schedule is available here.

5G Resources and Guidance

Open Radio Access Network Security Considerations

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and National Security Agency (NSA) published this paper, which assesses the benefits and security considerations with implementing Open RAN architecture.

Potential Threat Vectors to 5G Infrastructure – CISA, NSA, ODNI Report

The fifth-generation (5G) of wireless technology represents a complete transformation of telecommunication networks. These developments also introduce significant risks that threaten national security, economic security, and impact other national and global interests.

Framework to Conduct 5G Testing

The Federal Mobility Group’s (FMG) 5G and Mobile Network Infrastructure Working Group (WG) undertook an evaluation of 5G testing approaches to understand available 5G testing capabilities to avoid duplication, promote the use of shared testing resources, and define a framework for federal 5G testing.

5G Security Evaluation Process Investigation

This study investigates how 5G may introduce unique challenges to the traditional ATO process defined in security assessment processes and frameworks such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Risk Management Framework (RMF).

NTIA Initiatives